It is not secret that personal-local attorneys in my area. We’ve all heard the jokes, stereotypes, and jokes about “ambulance seeking” lawyers. That we exploit vulnerable people for personal gain, that chase ambulances for our next payday, or that we will do any dishonest or underhanded act to get paid.
These stereotypes, in addition to being false, are harmful to our legal systems. When in crisis, people need to turn to the law system. The majority of injury lawyers work to help clients get the compensation that they deserve. Accident lawyers help those who have been injured in a car wreck, personal injury, or by defective products.
Then where does this negative stereotype come from? These negative stereotypes originate mainly from the popular media, which is heavily influenced in part by the insurance company’s tort-reform agenda. TV shows, movies, and the news frequently portray lawyers in their worst light: greedy, vindictive, and even in a negative way. Danny DeVito, the Rainmaker’s protagonist, is an excellent example. He is an incompetent and unethical lawyer who visits hospitals frequently to generate business.
Negative stereotypes also come from advertisements for lawyers. Many of these advertisements portray lawyers as being greedy and convincing people that they are able to collect millions of dollars even for the most simple of injuries accident cases. The clients are viewed as judged by the amount of their settlement, and not as people. These money-hungry attorneys make up a small minority. Many personal injury lawyers do not view their clients the same way they treat meal tickets.
An injury attorney is there to help people in need. People and corporations that are negligent will be subject to civil damages if it is determined they have not acted reasonably and safely. The personal injury attorneys are responsible for ensuring that all safety laws and regulations are adhered to by local, state, federal, and international authorities. These laws were created to protect people from dangerous negligent behavior.
I can see why people are so negative about personal injuries attorneys. There is no way for lawyers to help themselves. “One bad apple spoils the rest,” they say. Unfortunately, even though you see the story about the fraudster attorney that stole the client’s money every day, you don’t hear much about the positive work attorneys do for their customers. This includes working pro-bono for causes that the attorneys believe in and reducing fees to ensure that their clients get all the justice they deserve. While there are some greedy injury attorneys out there, the vast majority are strong advocates for clients’ rights.
But what is often missed is that these negative stereotypes are primarily driven by insurance companies and corporations that wish to profit from these bad public images. They pretend that injury lawyers and their clients have been portrayed as the antagonists in a lawsuit lottery. In reality, the attorneys are trying their best to take advantage of the misfortunes of their clients. Although it is hard work and dedication required to do what they do, many attorneys choose to work with people who are injured because they want help.
It is possible that you will find yourself in a position where you need a personal lawyer. There are many personal injury attorneys that will work hard for you. You are not and should never be treated as a number. A personal injury lawyer must treat you with respect.